Cellophane dispensing machine



Nov. 22, 1938. N. LESTER ET AL 2,137,724

CELLOPHANE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS INVENTORS N! n/n/v Assn-R Nov.

N. LESTER ET AL CELLOPHANE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1933 F HGH GRADF:

| BREAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR-S -A/97'l/AN ssrse laqmv A. BEc/nER ATTORN EYS Nov. 22, 1938. N. LESTER ET AL. 2,137,724

CELLOPHANE DI SPENS ING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 vlil INVE TORS I Nari/Au sans/a ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1938. N. LESTER ET AL 2,137,724

CELLOPHANE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Es T'R loan/v ,4. BE: KEQ

ATTORNEYS NET/IAN Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GELLOPHANE DISPENSING MACHINE Application March 14,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for cutting off sheets of predetermined size from a roll of sheet material, and more particularly to a machine adapted to cut sheets of a predetermined length from a roll of Cellophane on a dispensing basis, meaning the cutting of a single sheet at each actuation of an operating lever. The same machine is adapted to operate on a continuous cycle basis and cut sheets of Cellophane in quick succession.

Recently it has become quite common practice to wrap and form packages of articles with transparent paper such as regenerated cellulose sheeting, known by the trade name of "Cellophane", and the like. An instance of such use is the wrapping of foodstuffs such as sliced bacon, bread, pastry and the like, in sheets of Cellophane. Such sheets are usually quite thin, and in the usual practice, they are out to a predetermined length and placed in a pile from which they are taken either by a machine or by hand, and wrapped around various articles.

When the ready-cut sheets of Cellophane are stacked they will adhere to one another, and it is quite diiiicult to separate them. They are thin and transparent and even though pains are taken to try to separate the individual sheets, often the operator will take up more than one sheet and without recognizing that more than one sheet has been lifted, will wrap a package with the several layers. This results in the using of many extra sheets and a consequent waste of material which is a considerable item owing to the cost of the material. If the operator at- 35 tempts to separate the sheets much time is lost which might be usefully employed in wrapping operations.

The present invention presents means to prevent the waste of materials above described, and our invention has other objects in view. Among these objects are:

First, the providingof a machine especially adapted for working with a roll of Cellophane sheeting, which will cut a single sheet at each actuation of an operating lever. Also to provide a machine which, in addition to the above use, may be quickly changed to cut a succession of sheets on a continuous cycle basis while the machine is in operation.

Another object is to provide a machine to accomplish the above objects which is positive, accurate and speedy in operation, and which may be readily adjusted to cut sheets of Cellophane within a relatively wide range of sizes by quickly and easily operable means.

1933, Serial No. 660,668

Another object is to provide new and improved adjusting means for adapting the machine to cut sheets of a desired size and for selectively operating the machine on the dispensing principle or on the continuous cycle principle.

The web of Cellophane" is usually printed with a succession of designs, trade-marks and the like, and the machineds designed to divide the web so that the individual markings are properly centered in the cut sheets, but if the feed should vary slightly, the machine may quickly be brought into proper register. As the prior practice has been to cut the printed "Cellophane" and stack the cut sheets, the handling and other operations which have been necessary in the prior practice are eliminated. The cutting operation with our invention consumes none of the operator's time, and the expense is correspondingly reduced. It is also possible to vary the size of individual sheets if desired, such operation being impossible in the prior practice.

The above and other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

We show an illustrative embodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view oi. the machine with the eccentric adjusted to cut a. sheet, with a given initial setting or the machine;

Fig. 2 is an end view taken from-the right hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 3 showing the driving clutch;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the clutch, which prevents reverse rotation of the feed roll;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the parts adjusted to cut the longest sheet;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line III-I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Illl of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing a modified form of sheet length adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line |3-|3 of Fig. 12; and a Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line |4--|4 of Fig. 12.

The present embodiment of the preferred form 'of our invention comprises a bed plate l5, sup-.-

porting vertically positioned frame members l6, joined by tie rods l1. A roll of regenerated cellulose sheeting, known by the trade name of Cellophane is indicated by the numeral l8, and is mounted on a shaft I9, riding on discs 20, supported on the frame members IS. A web of Cellophane 22 from the roll I8 passes around under compensator roll 23, which is limited in its upward movement by a spring pressed rod 23a, and then over a feed roll 24, mounted on a shaft 25, journaled in the frame members |6. The feed roll 24 is provided with an outer covering of circumferential bands of rubber 26 between which are guide wires 21, which are fixedly mounted in a lower knife block 3| carried on frame member l6. As indicated in Figure 2, this web may be printed with representations of a trade mark, label or other advertising and descriptive matter.

An upper roll 28, of similar construction, is provided above the feed roll 24, and is adapted to press the web of Cellophane 22 against the feed roll 24. The upper roll 28 is yieldlngly mounted by springs 29, the tension of which can be adjusted by the adjusting screws 38, while a plurality of guide wires 32, extending around the lower portion of the upper roll 28 are secured at one end to a guide bar 33, mounted on adjustable levers 34, which are mounted on the ends of the upper roll shaft 35. The adjustment of the top guide wires is effected by the adjusting screws 36 in cooperation with the springs 31. Handles 35a are secured to the ends of the upper roll shaft 35 for operating the machine by hand.

After the web of Cellophane 22 has passed beyond the feed roll 24, a vertically reciprocating knife 38, secured to a knife carrier 39, which is mounted on hinged brackets 48, pivotally mounted on hinge pin 4|, cuts off a sheet from the web 22. Lugs 42 are provided on the hinged brackets 48, while rods 43 connect the lugs 42 and the knife carrier 39, and springs 44 normally urge the knife 38 against a guide plate 45 secured to the knife block 3|. The knife carrier 39 is actuated by means of a rod 46, secured at its lower end to a block 41 to which is secured a square shaft 48, operating in a boss 49, formed integral with one of the frame members |6, while a cam member 58 is secured to the main drive shaft One side of the lower end of the square shaft 48 is cut away forming a notch 52, adapted to be moved downwardly by the cam member 58, a spring 53 serving to restore the parts to their normal setting shown in Figure 1. The main drive shaft 5| is provided at one end with a gear 54 which is adapted to be driven by a source of power through reduction gearing (not shown).

The main drive shaft 5| comprises two parts, 5|a on which is mounted the driving gear 54, and a cooperating part 5|b, on which is secured a driving disc 55. The part 5|b of the main drive shaft 5| is operatively joined to the part 5|a by means of a one revolution clutch 56. The right hand part of the clutch 56, as viewed in Figure 8, is secured to the shaft 5|a, while the left hand portion of the clutch 56 is secured to the shaft 5|b. The shaft 5| is adapted to be driven in the direction indicated in Fig. 8 which face of the right hand portion of the clutch 56 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed tapered cavities 51, while the left hand clutch mem her is provided with a spring pressed pin 58 adapted to engage in any one of the cavities 51. A cam block 59 is secured to the outer surface of the pin 58, and is adapted to cooperate with a latch member 68 secured to a rod 6|, carried by the frame members |6. Freely mounted on the rod 6| is a positive stop latch 62, which is suptported by a pin 63, secured in latch member 66.

Two hand levers 64 are secured to the ends of the rod 6| for throwing in the clutch 56 when it is desired to throw the clutch 56 into engagement and thus cause the machine to cut a sheet from the web.

When the operator desires to cut a sheet from the web 22, she presses down on one of the hand levers 64, which raises the latch member 60' and positive stop latch 62 to about the position shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 11. This movement releases spring pressed pin 58 which engages in one of the tapered cavities 51 of the clutch 56, thus throwing the clutch 56 into engagement. As the hand lever 64 is released by the operator, the latch 68 will ride on the bottom of cavity 65 in the left hand portion'of the clutch 56, and positive stop latch 62 will ride on surface 66. This movement is caused by the coil spring 61, one end of which is secured to a tie rod i1 and the other end to one of the hand levers 64.

Just before the clutch 56 completes one revo:

lution, the cam block 59 will strike cam face 68 on latch member 66, which will push spring pressed pin 58 out of engagement with one of the tapered cavities 51, thus throwing the clutch out of engagement. At the end of a revolution the positive stop latch 62 will fall by gravity into cavity 69 in the clutch surface 66.- For each revolution of the driving shaft 5|, when the clutch is in engagement, the knife 38 will cut one sheet from the web 22.

When, however, it is desired to operate the ma-- chine on a continuous cycle basis and cut successive sheets from the web 22, the operator presses down on one of the hand levers 64, thus raising both the latch member 60 and the positive stop latch 62 to the position shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure 11, at the same time the operator places one of a pair of hook latches 18 into engagement with a tie rod |1, thus keeping the clutch 56 in engagement as long as it is desired to operate the machine. The clutch 56 will be thrown out of engagement in the same way as described above after disengaging the hook latch 10.

The driving means between the main drive shaft 5| and the feed roll 24 comprises the driving disc 55, secured to the main drive shaft 5|b, which is provided with a plurality of apertures 12 at varying distances from the center of the disc, while a pin 13, fitting into one of the apertures 12 in the driving disc 55, secures a link 14 thereto, which, at its upper end is provided with an aperture into which is fitted a pin fixed in a sliding block 16, adapted to be moved in ways 11 in a quadrant arm 18 provided with gear teeth 18, meshing with a gear 88 affixed to the end of the feed roll shaft 25. The quadrant arm 18 is pivotally mounted on a. saft 8| carried on the frame members l6. An eccentric 82 is secured to the shaft 8|, while an eccentric lever 83 is mounted on the eccentric 82, the other end of shows the clutch in its inoperative position. The the eccentric lever 83 being connected to the pin The cooperating parts oi? the sliding hloelt iii are held together by a bolt andwashers Mounted on the side of the frame it is a gear housing in which is mounted a worm wheel fixed to the shaft l (Cooperating with the worm wheel tilt is a worm til, mounted on. the lower end oil an adjusting rod till having a irnurled handle The arrangement of the parts is such that by turning the itnurled handle tit through the Worth lit and worm wheel lit, the location of the eccen trio ht will be altered. This change of position of the eccentrictt will move the sliding block to or from the feed roll 2t.

In; order to cause the feed roll M to feed in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Figure 1, due to the upward movement of the quadrant arm I9 and to idle when the quadrant is moved downwardly, it is necessary to provide an arrangement of clutches cooperating with the feed roll 24. One of such clutches is a driving clutch 90, and the other is a clutch 9| to prevent reverse rotation of the feed roll 24. These clutches are shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and5.

The feed roll 24 is mounted on the shaft 25 on which is mounted a steel tube 92 mounted on bail races 93. The driving clutch 90 comprises an inner portion 94, secured to the'shaft 25, and an outer portion 95 which is secured to the inside of the steel tube 92. Located between the inner portion 94 and outer portion 95, are a plurality of spring pressed rollers 96 which serve to lock the clutch when the roll 24 is being rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1. completion of the feeding operation, shaft 25 will be rotated in the reverse direction, consequently the driving clutch 90 will idle.

The clutch 9| comprises'an inner member 91 fixedly secured to a bushing 99, secured to the frame I6. An outer portion 99 of the clutch 9| is secured to the inside of the steel tube 92. Located between the inner portion 91 and the outer portion 99 are a plurality of spring pressed rollers I00. As the feed roll shaft 25 is rotated in the reverse direction, during the idling operation, it tends to rotate the whole feed roll unit in the same direction, and as the inner portion 91 of the clutch 9| is fixed, the outer portion 99 will be looked through the rollers I00.

Mounted on the outer portion 99 of the clutch 9| is a gear I0| which, through gear I02, drives upper roll 28. Mounted on an extension flange I09 of the gear |0| is a brake band I04, one end of which is secured to the frame of the machine,

and the other end is adjustably secured to the frame by means of a hook I05 on lug I06, secured to the frame, which can be adjusted through spring I01 and lock nuts I08. The object of this brake is to prevent over running of the feed roll 24 during the' feeding operation.

In the modified form of our invention shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, different means are used for changing the position of the slide block I6. In this'form, a rack I09 secured to the sliding block'16, cooperates with a gear 0 fixed to the shaft 8|. The rotation of the knurled handle 89, in this modified form, will change the position of the slide block I6 in the same manner asshownin the preferred form of the invention. An important feature of this modified form is that it giveaa more uniform adjustment than can be obtained by using the eccentric and lever shown in the-;L'prcferred form.

Our machine is operated as follows: A roll of "Cellophane sheeting, preferably having advertising matter printed thereon, is placed in the At the position shown in l lgtue it weh from this roll is then led under and around the competitortor roll it, and then in between the feed roll and the upper roll The length of sheet to be out from the roll is then regulated loy turning the knurled handle llil on the end of the rod till. Suitable indicator means may he used in conjunction with the handle til so that the posh tion of the handle may indicate the length of the sheet to be cut. I

The feed roll ti t is driven in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure l, through the gear teeth it on the end of the quadrant arm it meshing with the gear til on the end of the feed roll 99, while the upper roll 29 is driven from the feed roll 24 by gear l02 meshing with gear IOI. Thus theupper roll 28 is driven in one direction only and the extent of its rotation corresponds to the rotation of the feed roll 24.

The cycle of operation is illustrated by circular lines around the driving disc 55 in which A replit resents the cutting portion of the cycle when the knife 98 is brought down to cut a sheet from the web 22. B represents the feeding portion of the cycle when the feed roll 24 advances the end of the web to be cut. C represents the idling part of the cycle when the feed roll idles.

The movement of the quadrant arm 18 is controlled by the link I4, one end of which is secured to the sliding block I6, while the other end of it is connected to the driving disc 55, which is secured to the main drive shaft 5|. The length of the are through which the pivotally mounted quadrant arm I8 travels, and, therefore, the extent of the movement of the feed roll in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 is determined by the position of the sliding block 18. Obviously, the greater the distance of the sliding block I6 from the shaft III the shorter the are through which the quadrant arm I6 moves. The length of the travel of the quadrant arm I0 may be further regulated tosecure a major adjustment of the stroke by changing the position of the pin I3 securing the link I4 to the driving disc 55, the reason for this being readily apparent. Reverse movement of the feed roll 24,

when the quadrant arm I9 moves downwardly, is prevented by means of the clutch 9|.

In place of changing the adjustment of the pin I3 securing the link I4 to the driving disc 55 to effect an adjustment of the feeding stroke, the same may be accomplished by substituting a driving disc of different size, or any mechanical equivalent may be used, and the same is within the scope of our invention.

The knife 38 is caused to be brought down to sever a sheet from the web 22 when the cam member 50, on the drive shaft 5|, strikes against the notch 52 in the square shaft 48, and pulls it downwardly and the rod 46 on which the knife carrier 39 is mounted. The spring 53 serves to return the knife 38 to its normal or inoperative position.

In the normal or inoperative position of the parts the one revolution clutch 56 is out, and the rotation of the driving shaft 5| will produce no movement of the parts. When the operator desires to sever a single sheet from the web 22, she presses down on one of the hand levers 64 which, as previously explained, throws the clutch 56 into engagement, and thus operates the driving disc 55 to set the parts into operation. At the end of one revolution the clutch 56 will be thrown out of engagement by the pushing of the spring pressed pin 58 out of'engagement with one of the tapered cavities 51. In this manner one sheet is severed at each actuation of the hand lever 64, and a measured sheet, as shown in Fig. 2, is hanging down ready to be severed by the knife 38 the instant the operator presses down one of the hand levers 64, so that no time is lost by the operator between setting the machine in operation and producing a severed sheet. The machine can be adjusted so that any printed matter on the web will be'centered in the severed sheet so that the sheet may conveniently be wrapped about the foodstuff to be packaged. The only operation required by the operator to sever a sheet being to press down at the hand lever 64.

Whenever it is desired to sever a series of sheets from the web on a continuous cycle basis, the operator presses down on one of the hand levers El, and while it is in this position places one of the pair of hook latches 10 into engagement with a tie rod and thus prevent the disengagement of the clutch 56 at the end of each revolution.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that our invention may be changed, used or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof. Also, that the embodiment of our invention herein shown is illustrative only, and that our invention is not limited thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a driving disc secured to a driven shaft, a pivoted quadrant arm engaging said feed roll at one end thereof, a link connecting said driving disc and said quadrant arm, the position of said link on said quadrant arm being readily adjustable by means of a slidably mounted block to which said link is secured onsaid quadrant, a shaft, an eccentric mounted on said shaft, a link connecting said eccentric and said block, and means for altering the position of said eccentric and thus varying the position of said block on said quadrant.

2. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web 'of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a driving disc secured to a driven shaft, a pivoted quadrant arm engaging said feed roll at one end thereof, a link connecting said driving disc and said quadrant arm, the position of said link on said quadrant arm being readily adjustable by means of a slidably mounted block to wifch said link is secured on said quadrant, a shaft, an eccentric mounted on said shaft, alink connecting said eccentric and said block, a worm wheel mounted on said shaft, an adjusting rod, a worm mounted on said rod and meshing with said worm wheel whereby the position of said eccentric may be varied by turning said rod and thus vary the position of said block.

3. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a driving disc secured to a driven shaft, a pivoted quadrant arm engaging said feed roll at one end thereof, a link connecting said driving disc and said quadrant arm, means for causing said driving disc to make one revolution and then stop, means for causing said quadrant arm to rotate said feed roll when it is moved in one direction, and means for causing said feed roll to idle when it is moved in the other direction.

4. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting,comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a driving-disc secured to a driven shaft, a pivoted quadrant arm engaging said feed roll at one end thereof, a link connecting said driving disc and said quadrant arm, means for causing said driving disc to make one revolution and then stop, a driving clutch associated with said feed roll to permit said roll to be rotated in one direction by the quadrant arm, and means for causing said feed roll to idle when it is moved in the other direction.

5. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a driving disc secured to a driven shaft, a pivoted quadrant arm engaging said feed roll at one end thereof, a link connecting said driving disc and said quadrant arm, means for causing said driving disc to make one revolution and then stop, a driving clutch associated with said feed roll to permit said roll to be rotated in one direction by the quadrant arm, and a clutch means for preventing reverse rotation of said feed roll when the quadrant arm is moved in the opposite direction.

6. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a driving disc secured to a driven shaft, a pivoted quadrant arm engaging said feed roll at one end thereof, a link connecting said driving disc and said quadrant arm, the instantaneous positions of said link on said quadrant arm being readily adjustable by means of a slidably mounted block to which said link is secured on said quadrant arm, a shaft, a gear mounted on said shaft, a rack secured to said block and meshing with said gear, and means for rotating said gear and thus reciprocating said rack and adjusting the instantaneous positions of said block on said quadrant.

7. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a driving disc secured to a driven shaft, a pivoted quadrant arm engaging said feed roll at one end thereof, a link connecting said driving disc and said quadrant arm, the position of said link on said quadrant arm being readily adjustable by means of a slidably mounted block to which said link is secured on said quadrant arm, a shaft, a gear mounted on said shaft, a rack secured to said block and meshing with said gear, a worm wheel mounted on said shaft, an adjusting rod, a worm mounted on said rod and meshing with said worm wheel whereby the position of said rack may be varied by turning said rod and thus vary the position of said block.

8. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a clutch for driving said roll the same being normally out of engagement, means for causing said clutch to engage said drive shaft, means for throwing out said clutch at each revolution of the driving shaft, means for holding out of operation said clutch throw-out means so that said machine may operate in a continuous cycle, and means comprising a movable eccentric and worm gearing cooperating therewith for varying the peripheral speed of the feed roll without stopping the operation of the machine so as to change the length of the severed sheet.

9. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a drive shaft for driving said knife and said rolls, selective means whereby said machine may be operated to sever a single sheet from said web and then stop or may be operated in a continuous cycle to cut a succession of sheets, means for varying the length of the severed sheet, said means including a pivoted quadrant arm operating said feed roll, a slidable block mounted on said quadrant arm, a disc on said driving shaft and a link connecting said block and said disc.

10. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a clutch for driving said roll the same being normally out of engagement, means for causing said clutch to engage said drive shaft, means for throwing out said clutch at each revolution of the driving shaft, means for varying the length of the severed sheet, said means including a pivoted quadrant arm operating said feed roll, a slidable block mounted on said quadrant arm, a disc on said driving shaft and a link connecting said block and said disc.

11. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a clutch for driving said roll the same being normally out of engagement, means for causing said clutch to engage said drive shaft, means for throwing out said clutch at each revolution of the driving shaft, means for holding out of operation said clutch throw-out means so that said machine may operate in a continuous cycle, means for varying the length of the severed sheet, said means including a pivoted quadrant arm operating said feed roll, a slidable block mounted on said quadrant arm, a disc on said driving shaft and a link connecting said block and said disc.

12. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a drive shaft for driving said knife and said roll, selective means whereby said machine may be operated to sever a single sheet from said web and then stop or may be operated in a continuous cycle to 'cut a succession of sheets, means for varying the length of the severed sheet, said means including a pivoted quadrant arm operating said feed roll, a slidable block mounted on said quadrant arm, a disc on said driving shaft and a link connecting said block and said disc, and means for changing the position of said block on said quadrant and thus vary the extent of rotation of the feed roll.

13. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a ,drive shaft, a clutch for driving said roll the same being normally out of engagement, means for causing said clutch to engage said drive shaft, means for throwing out said clutch at each revolution of the driving shaft, means for varying the length of the severed sheet, said means including a pivoted quadrant 1 arm operating said feed roll, a slidable block mounted on said quadrant arm, a disc on said driving shaft and a link connecting said block and said disc, and means for changing the posi tion of said block on said quadrant and thus vary the extent of rotation of the feed roll.

14. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a drive shaft, a clutch for driving said roll the same being normally out of engagement, means for causing said clutch to engage said drive shaft, means for throwing out said clutch at each revolution of the driving shaft, means for holding out of operation said clutch throw-out means so that said machine may operate in a continuous cycle, means for varying the length of the severed sheet, said means including a pivoted quadrant arm operating said feed roll, a slidable block mounted on said quadrant arm, a disc on said driving shaft and a link connecting said block and said disc, and means for changing the position of said block on said quadrant and thus vary the extent of rotation of the feed roll.

15. A machine for severing sheets from a continuous web of sheeting, comprising means for supporting a roll of sheeting,a feed roll, a knife for severing a sheet from said web after it passes beyond said roll, a drive shaft, a clutch for driving said rolls the same being normally out of engagement, means for causing said clutch to engage said drive shaft, means for throwing out said clutch at each revolution of the drivin shaft, means for holding out of operation said clutch throw-out means so that said machine may operate in a continuous cycle, and means for varying the length of the severed sheet, the cycle of operation being that said knife severs a sheet and then saidfeed roll advances another sgeet to be cut and idles while the knife severs a s eet. 1

NATHAN LESTER. LOGAN A. BECKER. 

